Soil and Flower

Once upon a time, there lived a patch of soil. It lived under the blue, blue sky with its fluffy clouds and grinning sun.

One day, a seed fell from the sky and landed on it. It ambitiously declared, ‘I wanna grow here. I like this place. Magnesium, check. Potassium, check. Crumbly-feel, check. I want to grow here.’

The soil paused, then said, ‘You want to grow? Here?’

The seed said impatiently, ‘Yes, I want to grow. Duh. I’m a seed. And I do want to grow here. It feels good.’

The soil said nothing for a while, then slowly started, ‘You are free to grow. But I just want to tell you that you will experience life, and death.’

The seed snapped, ‘Ok already wise guy. Just let me germinate in peace.’

And so the soil said nothing. Within a few days, the seed grew its rootlets, reached towards the sky, and shed its seed coat.

‘I feel great! Why, you didn’t tell me that life would be so marvelous! I grow taller and taller each day. All you see is the blue, blue sky with its fluffy clouds and grinning sun. I, for your information, can see more and more everyday. I see trees, large and strong. I see houses of brick, imposing and sturdy. And I see people, tall and wise and lean.’

The seedling glanced down at the soil, and spat out in disgust, ‘You don’t see much, do you?’

The soil said nothing.

Weeks passed, and the seed grew taller, firmer and greener. Soon, it shed forth beautiful flowers.

‘I feel positively fantastic! Why, you didn’t tell me that life would be so enjoyable! My flowers are a brilliant hue of sapphire and flame! My phloem and xylem couldn’t be having a better time transporting glucose and water (respectively). Bees swarm me everyday, gathering my sweet and delicious nectar. I think that beauty couldn’t find a better soulmate than me. But what are you?’

The flower looked down, staring at the soil. After a momentary pause, it spat out with venom, ‘Aren’t you just a patch of black soil?’

The soil said nothing.

A month passed, and soon the flower began to feel different.

‘I’m feeling dreadful. Why, you didn’t tell me that life would turn out this way! My stem is starting to feel a chronic strain. My flowers are losing their colours. I’m fading to dull maroon! The bees have left me. And each day, I see less and less. Where have all the people gone? Why have all the trees grown taller? Some look dreadful too.’

The flower looked down, and said, ‘But aren’t you still the same old patch of soil? Ha!’

The soil said nothing.

Soon, the chills of the North flowed across the plains, and the sky turned a frosty grey.

‘I’m feeling…why didn’t you tell me that life would turn out like this? I have nothing left. Nothing…’

The flower glanced to its side (it now lay prostrate on the soil), and said weakly, ‘Haha, but you have nothing too. You never had anything.’

The soil paused. It then said, ‘Now, I have you.’

The flower was taken aback by the sudden show of kindness.

‘But, all I’ve ever done is to insult you…wait a minute…’

As the truth sunk in, the flower’s wilted petals stood on end and it uttered a piercing cry of fear.

The soil dragged it down and feasted upon it.

THE END